MAN SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR FOR STEALING MARKET VENDORS’ MONEY
The Magistrates Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man from Malaita Province to 12 months in jail for stealing money from vendors at the central market.
Robert Saeni, a father with two kids pleaded guilty to two counts of simple larceny this morning.
The Court heard in June last year, Mr. Saeni stole a market vendor’s bag from the central market while he went to buy betel nut. He took $50 from inside the bag.
In September last year, he stole $25 from a woman at the Central market.
She was counting the money at the time.
Handing down the sentence this morning, Magistrate Jim Seiuka says although the amount of money stolen was small, the offenses were committed on people who were struggling to make a living.
Magistrate Suika says Mr. Saeni’s past seven convictions, two of which were also for larceny warrants a custodial sentence.
The sentence is back date to time the accused was remanded in custody.